In this review, we will be comparing Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by Mackie Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT are members of Mackie's CR series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Mackie CR Series History
|
Model |
Body |
Frequency |
Watts RMS | Max Depth / Sample Rate | Woofer |
 |
Mackie CR4-XBT
|
Bookshelf |
65-20k Hz |
25-watt | N/A/N/AΩ |
1 x 4"
|
 |
Mackie CR3-XBT
|
Bookshelf |
80-20k Hz |
25-watt | N/A/N/AΩ |
1 x 3"
|
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Mackie CR4-XBT |
Mackie CR3-XBT |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 3-inch
|
Mackie CR4-XBT features a 0.75" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the Mackie CR3-XBT features a 0.75" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Mackie CR4-XBT has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas Mackie CR3-XBT has a frequency range of 80-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the Mackie CR4-XBT can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Mackie CR3-XBT's min frequency of 80Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Mackie CR4-XBT's and Mackie CR3-XBT's external dimensions. Mackie CR4-XBT has external dimensions of 222.3 x 155.6 x 215.9mm ( 8.75 x 6.125 x 8.5inch) whereas Mackie CR3-XBT has external dimensions of 206.4 x 139.7 x 190.5mm ( 8.125 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) .
Mackie CR4-XBT is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 15.9mm wider, 15.9mm taller and 25.4mm deeper than Mackie CR3-XBT.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT in scale.
Comparison image of Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Mackie CR4-XBT is approximately 335.9cm2 / 52.1inch2 and base area of the Mackie CR3-XBT is approximately 266.1cm2 / 41.2inch2. The Mackie CR4-XBT requires 26% more surface area than the Mackie CR3-XBT which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Mackie CR4-XBT and Mackie CR3-XBT on a Media Console
What's in the Box of Mackie CR4-XBT?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Mackie CR4-XBT:
Powered monitor w/ attached 5.5-feet power cord (C7 unpolarized)Passive monitor6.5-feet Speaker wire5-feet Stereo mini to RCA cableQuick Start Guide
What's in the Box of Mackie CR3-XBT?
Here are the items that come with the Mackie CR3-XBT:
Powered monitor w/ attached 5.5-feet power cord (C7 unpolarized)Passive monitor6.5-feet Speaker wire5-feet Stereo mini to RCA cableQuick Start Guide